Pamela Cox

Men's Soccer Plays At Saint Michael's Saturday

9/8/2023 8:59:00 AM

By: CONTACT: Tom McDermott, Director of Athletics Communications | tmcdermo@daemen.edu

AMHERST, N.Y. – The Daemen men's soccer team travels to The Green Mountain State this weekend for a non-league game at Saint Michael's College on Saturday. Opening kick is set for 12 p.m. It will mark the third-straight road game for Daemen, which will play seven of its first 10 games on the road.

THE WILDCATS
Daemen has been picked to finish fifth in the East Coast Conference (ECC) this season according to the ECC preseason poll. It marks the highest preseason ranking for the Wildcats since they first joined the conference in 2013. Daemen enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in program history last fall and closed out the year with a 7-7-3 overall record and a 3-4-1 mark in ECC play. The Wildcats entered the final game of the season in contention for their first ever appearance in the four team ECC Championship tournament. The seven wins tied the program record for most in a season set in 2005, 2006 and 2017. Daemen returns just 13 players from last year and the 2023 roster features 17 newcomers (11 transfers, 6 freshmen).

Defense was a big factor in Daemen's success last fall, as the Wildcats limited 12 of their 17 opponents to one goal or less and established a NCAA-era record for fewest goals allowed (26) in a season. Graduate student Derek Bartlo (Williamsville, N.Y.) returns in the midfield off a record-breaking season last year. An all-region and all-conference selection, he finished as the team leader in goals (10), assists (4) and points (24). He recorded at least one point in eight of Daemen's final 10 games and established a new program record for most goals and points in a season during Daemen's NCAA era (2015-present). Senior Harry Firth (Reading, England), who saw limited time in his first season with the team last year, and junior college transfer Arturo Bustamante (South Gate, Calif.) will challenge for the starting goalkeeper job. Bustamante earned All-South Coast Conference honors last year at Rio Hondo College.

DOUGLAS COLLECTS CONFERENCE HONOR
Freshman Elijah Douglas (Clarence, N.Y.) has been named the ECC Men's Soccer Co-Rookie of the Week for games played August 28-Sept.3. The 6-foot-4 forward helped the Wildcats break even during a season-opening trip to Ohio last weekend. He played 37 minutes off the bench during his collegiate debut against Walsh University Thursday night. He made his first collegiate start on Saturday afternoon at Malone and netted his first two career goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-1 victory. He also registered a team-high four shots in 67 minutes of action.

THE PURPLE KNIGHTS
Saint Michael's is a NCAA Division II member of the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10). Head coach Wade Jean is entering his 14th season at SMC. The Purple Knights went 3-9-4 overall and 3-5-3 in the NE-10 last year. They were picked 11th in the 2023 NE-10 preseason pol l. A total of 26 players return from last year, including five of the team's top six scorers and a pair of goalkeepers who posted a combined 1.90 goals-against average. Junior midfielder Amos Schramm returns after totaling a team-high three goals and nine points last year. Senior goalkeeper Liam Barrett returns after starting 11 games last year and posting a 1.89 goals against average.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's contest will mark just the second all-time meeting between the Wildcats and the Purple Knights. The teams met for the first time ever last year at Karrer Field in Amherst, N.Y. and Daemen posted a 3-1 victory. Derek Bartlo and Riccardo Boscolo Bachetto (2) scored for the Wildcats.

UP NEXT
Daemen returns to action Wednesday (Sept. 13) when the Wildcats host Gannon University in their 2023 home opener. Game time is 4 p.m. at Karrer Field.

Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen men's soccer program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @DaemenMSOC.

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